High Court bench withdraws from hearing NIA appeal in Antilia bomb case

The High Court bench stepped back from adjudicating the NIA's appeal against bail granted to Vaze, who was arrested in connection with the February 2021 incident involving an explosives-laden vehicle found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south Mumbai. The recusal came as the case raised procedural questions regarding the collection and timing of witness statements, as well as broader evidentiary concerns that the presiding judges deemed warranted fresh judicial consideration.

Vaze, a suspended police officer, has been a central figure in the investigation into the Antilia threat. His arrest initially in March 2021 in connection with the case, followed by subsequent developments, has drawn considerable scrutiny from both the investigating agency and the judiciary. The NIA had moved the High Court seeking cancellation of his bail, prompting the appeal that the bench has now declined to hear.

The reassignment to another bench introduces a potential shift in the appeal's trajectory. Legal observers have noted that questions surrounding the evidentiary foundation of the case—particularly regarding when and how certain witness testimonies were recorded—may influence the new panel's approach to the NIA's application. The case remains one of the most high-profile security incidents in recent Mumbai history, with implications extending beyond the individual accused to broader questions about police accountability and investigative protocols.